After assigning tasks to the three servants, Qin Lu walked toward the master’s quarters.

Glancing around the brand-new courtyard, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

He had moved.

He now lived in a classic Siheyuan courtyard compound, covering roughly six hundred square meters. It consisted of a main house to the north, southern-facing rooms opposite, east and west wing rooms, and a spacious central courtyard.

It was located in the heart of Wuji Market—Willow Street.

This was not only the most prosperous district but also the safest. The families and relatives of the four major powers all resided here.

“If it weren’t for the Yu family collapsing, I wouldn’t have been able to snatch up such a good courtyard,” Qin Lu sighed slightly.

Since Yu Xiu fell in battle, the Yu family had scattered like monkeys from a falling tree. Their shops and territories were divided up, and their retainers abandoned them one after another.

Unable to survive in the market, the Yu descendants sold off their assets and left with the merchant caravans, joining the exodus of Loose Cultivators.

That was how this mansion was left behind for Qin Lu to pick up cheaply.

Cheaply, of course, was relative. The monthly rent was a staggering one hundred Spirit Stones—highway robbery by any standard.

But ever since Zhang Meng and her child left, the old courtyard had become a gallery of painful memories. He couldn’t bear to stay there. He spent the Spirit Stones lavishly to move here, hoping to start a new life.

Entering the main northern house, Qin Lu sat on a meditation cushion and assumed a cultivation posture.

After a month of arduous effort, he had successfully advanced to the seventh layer of Qi Refining, reaching the late stage of the realm.

The breakthrough brought significant changes. His physical constitution improved drastically, but the most notable change was his skin.

It had become exceptionally tough.

Ordinary mortal weapons couldn’t cut him at all. A forceful chop might leave a white mark, but nothing more. Against mortals, he was now an invincible existence, truly embodying the distinction between immortal and mortal.

During this month, Qin Lu had entered a state of intense grinding.

He meditated for one hour at a time, six times a day without fail. Meditation alone consumed half his waking hours.

This relentless effort not only secured his breakthrough but also pushed the proficiency of the Mystic Sun Mantra to over one thousand.

He didn’t neglect his skills, either.

Apart from meditation and sleep, he dedicated his remaining time to improving his spells and talisman crafting.

His progress in talisman making was rapid. The Body Protection Shield reached the “Proficient” level and was approaching “Master.”

In this month alone, he had crafted over one hundred and eighty Body Protection Shield talismans, netting a profit of nearly six hundred Spirit Stones.

After deducting daily expenses, the exorbitant rent, and the cost of purchasing three servants, his savings still amounted to about nine hundred Spirit Stones.

Combat skills also saw considerable improvement.

He successfully practiced the Gray Shadow Sword Art to the “Master” level. Combined with a “Master” level Soft Wind Technique, its lethality was astonishing.

Qin Lu estimated that facing a ninth-layer Qi Refining Loose Cultivator would now be an easy victory. Even against well-equipped sect disciples, he wouldn’t be at a disadvantage.

As for minor spells, his focus on swordsmanship and talismans left little time for extensive practice. However, he still managed to raise the Heavenly Eye Technique and Spirit Shield Technique to the “Master” level.

The upgraded Heavenly Eye Technique was particularly useful.

Within a hundred-meter radius, he could clearly see everyone’s specific cultivation level. No one could hide from his gaze.

Moreover, the technique could now detect spiritual roots.

It was as if his eyes had become portable Spirit Testing Stones. Although he couldn’t discern specific attributes or grades, simply knowing if someone possessed roots was sufficient.

With a thought, he opened his attribute panel.

[Name: Qin Lu] [Lifespan: 36/127 years] [Cultivation: Qi Refining Seventh Layer: 1/100]

[Cultivation Method:]

Mystic Sun Mantra (Master): 1250/3000

[Skills:]

Spells:

Ignition Technique (Master): 225/3000

Finger Flick Technique (Master): 1568/3000

Illumination Technique (Master): 2/3000

Cutting Technique (Master): 2/3000

Soft Wind Technique (Master): 137/3000

Spirit Shield Technique (Master): 4/3000

Heavenly Eye Technique (Master): 4/3000

Talisman Crafting:

Water Qi Shield (Master): 2/3000

Cleansing Talisman (Novice): 48/100

Body Protection Shield (Proficient): 364/600

Swift Step Talisman (Novice): 4/100

Sword Art:

Gray Shadow Sword Art (Master): 135/3000

[Talent: None]

Looking at the series of “Master” designations, Qin Lu felt a surge of excitement. He clenched his fist.

“I haven’t wasted any time at all these past six months!”

After admiring his progress for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Qin Lu closed the panel.

“Time to cultivate.”

Qin Lu sat cross-legged. With a flick of his finger, a transparent spiritual energy dome instantly enveloped his body.

Spirit Shield Technique!

After the upgrade, the shield no longer just stood in front of him; it encased him completely, greatly improving his defense.

Deactivate!

Activate!

Deactivate!

He repeated the Spirit Shield Technique fifty times before stopping.

“At the seventh layer of Qi Refining, I can cast about fifty intermediate-level spells before my spiritual energy is exhausted…”

“By that calculation, I should be able to activate about sixty primary-level spells.”

After pondering for a moment, Qin Lu cleared his mind. He began circulating his cultivation method.

One hour later.

Qin Lu opened his eyes precisely on time, ending the session.

He checked his progress.

[Cultivation: Qi Refining Seventh Layer: 2/100]

“As expected, after advancing to late-stage Qi Refining, the difficulty spiked.”

“I can only gain one point of progress per day. Advancing a layer would take at least three months. Even with Qi Gathering Pills, it would still take over two months. The speed has slowed down considerably…”

“Sigh, never mind. Let’s not aim too high. This speed already surpasses many cultivators.”

Adjusting his mindset, Qin Lu stood up and stretched.

He walked out to the courtyard, lay down on a wooden recliner, and closed his eyes to bask in the sun.

As he lay there, faint voices reached his ears.

“Hmm?”

With his enhanced hearing, Qin Lu listened carefully. After a moment, he shook his head with a smile.

It was Steward Chen emphasizing the household rules to the two maidservants in their room.

Qin Lu had inquired about Chen Ming at the agency. He had been an inn manager in the mortal world. Yearning for immortality, he begged a passing caravan to take him in. Eventually, Zheng Yan agreed, allowing the forty-year-old man to come to Wuji Market.

Hearing Steward Chen lecture the girls, Qin Lu paid it no mind. He continued resting, enjoying the gentle March breeze.

Drowsiness soon overtook him.

But before he could fall asleep, Steward Chen approached.

“Immortal Master, someone is looking for you outside.”

Qin Lu opened his eyes. “Who is it?”

“He says his name is Cao Mo.”